The ITV daytime show Loose Women has faced backlash after comments made by panellists were perceived as victim blaming in the case of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon. Marten, 35, and Gordon, 48, are on trial for the manslaughter of their baby daughter Victoria, whose body was found in a shed in Brighton in February 2023.
During a discussion on the case, some panellists suggested that Marten, who comes from a wealthy aristocratic family, should have known better and could have sought help. Critics argued that the comments overlooked the complex circumstances, including Marten's alleged controlling relationship with Gordon and the couple's history of having four other children taken into care.
The couple had been living rough in a tent and scavenging in bins to avoid authorities, despite having access to money. They were arrested in late February 2023, but initially refused to disclose the baby's location. The infant's body was later found in a Lidl bag, wrapped in a pink sheet and covered with soil and rubbish.
Marten's background includes a privileged upbringing; her father is a former Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II and her family owns Crichel House. Gordon, meanwhile, has a criminal record including a rape conviction in Florida as a teenager. The trial continues.
